As long as it was a thrilling spectacle—even if City lost—it would still have been the talk of the town. But a cautious, creativity-lacking match like yesterday's, where they only managed a 1–1 draw away to Sturm Graz, offered little to discuss.
There were plenty of clubs on the Champions League stage with more prestige and influence than Manchester City. For example, in Group D, Manchester United unexpectedly demolished Brøndby 6–1 at Old Trafford, and in Group C, Real Madrid also thrashed Rosenborg 5–1.
If City couldn't showcase their own style—if their matches weren't exciting or unpredictable—they were destined to be mere supporting actors on the grand European stage, overshadowed by the real powerhouses.
So, outside of England, mainstream media quickly lost interest in Manchester City. After watching their first three group-stage matches—yes, they remained unbeaten, but none of the games truly tested the team's quality.
